Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:SQM) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Hold" by Brokerages

Shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report) have been given a consensus recommendation of "Hold" by the eight research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $41.14.

Several research firms have recently weighed in on SQM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $44.00 to $39.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, June 12th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $55.00 to $45.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 29th. Finally, Scotiabank reduced their price target on Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 30th.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera Stock Down 0.7%

Shares of NYSE SQM traded down $0.26 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $38.69. The company had a trading volume of 2,092,827 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,124,217. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.34 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a quick ratio of 1.96, a current ratio of 2.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. Sociedad Quimica y Minera has a 1-year low of $29.36 and a 1-year high of $45.89. The firm's 50 day moving average is $34.50 and its 200-day moving average is $37.07.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera (NYSE:SQM - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.63 by ($0.15). The business had revenue of $1.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.05 billion. Sociedad Quimica y Minera had a net margin of 13.45% and a return on equity of 11.71%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned ($3.04) EPS. On average, analysts expect that Sociedad Quimica y Minera will post -1.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Sociedad Quimica y Minera

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Quantbot Technologies LP increased its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 8,339 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $331,000 after acquiring an additional 364 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC increased its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 18.1% in the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,953 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $107,000 after acquiring an additional 453 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 6.0% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 9,315 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $370,000 after acquiring an additional 526 shares during the last quarter. Sprott Inc. increased its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Sprott Inc. now owns 14,860 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $590,000 after acquiring an additional 548 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 153.0% in the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 969 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 586 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.41% of the company's stock.

About Sociedad Quimica y Minera

Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile SA operates as a mining company worldwide. The company offers specialty plant nutrients, including sodium potassium nitrate, specialty blends, and other specialty fertilizers under Ultrasol, Qrop, Speedfol, Allganic, Ultrasoline, ProP, and Prohydric brands. It also provides iodine and its derivatives for use in medical, agricultural, industrial, and human and animal nutrition products comprising x-ray contrast media, biocides, antiseptics and disinfectants, pharmaceutical intermediates, polarizing films for LCD and LED screens, chemicals, organic compounds, and pigments, as well as added to edible salt to prevent iodine deficiency disorders.